A View on Religious Tolerance in Nigeria: A Role of the African Traditional Religion (ATR)

Religion is a significant social phenomenon that influences human life, particularly through its claims about physical and spiritual meaning. In Nigeria, three major religions exist: African Traditional Religion (ATR), Christianity, and Islam. While ATR is indigenous, Christianity and Islam are imported and considered revealed religions. Both foreign religions claim divine mandates to convert humankind, asserting their monotheistic God as the only true deity. Christianity’s doctrines are rooted in the Apostle’s Creed, while Islamic beliefs are derived from the Hadith of Prophet Mohammed (AS). These claims foster rivalry, as both religions assert exclusivity in divine salvation—Christianity through redemption from original sin and Islam through submission to God’s will. ATR, in contrast, lacks a central divine messenger and evolves from communal socio-cultural worldviews. The concept of a supreme divine does not involve receiving revelation and spreading it throughout the world. Through philosophical analysis, this study argues that Christianity and Islam, due to their exclusivist claims, struggle to promote social harmony and peaceful coexistence, which are crucial for Nigeria’s socio-economic development. Conversely, ATR’s emphasis on peace and communal development positions it as a more harmonious and development-oriented religious system. Ultimately, the study highlights ATR’s role in fostering a religious tolerance in Nigeria.